Fence post



Patented Nov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FENCE POST Harold L. Craig, Hampton, Iowa Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,900

(Cl. 174--45l 2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to improvements in fence posts for use with electrically charged wire fencing.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a durable, lightweight, strong, metal post equipped for easy driving .into the ground byy foot pressure, and embodying efficient, simply constructed means for fastening fence wire thereto and insulating the wire therefrom.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements and the advantages thereof will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part f this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of my improved fence post in a preferred embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a View in rear elevation.

Figure 3 is a View in side elevation of the combined fastener and insulator drawn to a larger scale and showing the same in fastening position.

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the fastener unfastened.

Figure 5 is a View in plan of the fastener and insulator and with the post shown in cross-section.

Figure 6 is a view in rear elevation of the presser plate.

Figure 7 is a View in side elevation drawn to a larger scale and illustrating the manner in which the driving device is operated.

Figure 8 is a View in vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary View in front elevation drawn to a larger scale and illustrating the anchor plate, and

Figure 10 is a view in vertical section taken on the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my improved fence post, as shown, comprises an elongated, narrow, channel iron member I with a bevelled lower end 2 for driving into the ground, and a longitudinal reinforcing rib 3 pressed into what constitutes the front 4 thereof and terminating short of the ends of said member for a purpose presently seen.

A rectangular anchor plate 5 is opposed to the front 4 of said member I at a suitable distance from the lower end 2 for imbedding in the ground 6 and which is fastened to said member I with corners thereof projecting beyond the sides I 0f said member I and by means of lugs 8 extended through apertures 9 in said front 4 and bent down against said front. fr

A driving device, designated as a unit by the numeral I0 is provided above said anchor plate 5 for forcing said member Ifinto the ground 6 by foot pressure. The driving-'device I0 comprises a clip-like slide II adapted to straddle the member I from the front 4 thereof and having side flanges I2 extending rearwardly beyond the sides of said member, and a right angled foot rest lever I3 pivoted intermediate its ends between the flanges I 2 in the rear of themember I for vertical rocking movement on a pivot pin I4 removably extended through said flanges I2 and through said lever. The foot rest lever I3 is formed with a downturned inner end dog I 5 on one side of the pivot pin I4 adapted to bear against the front 4 of the member I when pressure is exerted by the foot downwardly on said lever on the other side of said pivot pin I4, and whereby the front 4 of said member I is gripped between saldrslide II and the dog I 5 so that such downward foot pressure will drive the memberr I into the ground 6. By swinging the foot lever I3 counterclockwise, as shown in dotted lines in lFigure 7, the slide II may be freed for sliding upwardly or downwardly on said member I, as the occasion may require. Normally, the foot rest lever I3 is overbalanced on the side of the pivot pin I0 opposite the dog I5 to engage said dog with the front 4 of said member I and thereby frictionally lock the slide II in selected position on said member. By removing the pivot pin I4, the driving device I0 may be disassembled and detached from the member I after said member has been driven into the ground.

A combined fastener and insulator I6 is provided on the upper portion of the member I and which includes a pair of front and rear insulation blocks I1, I8 having confronting faces I9, 20 provided with pairs of upper and lower complemental grooves 2I, 22 of different depth in each pair and adapted to clamp fence wire 23 of diiferent gauge therein, said blocks being adapted to be clamped to said member I in different vertical positions as the case may require. The block I1 is reduced, as at 24, to slidably fit in the channel of said member I for Vertical adjustment therein while guided by said channel. For clamping the blocks I'I, I8 together, and to said member I, a rod-like, U-shaped, clamping bail 25 is provided to straddle said member I and said blocks I'I, I8 with its bight spaced fro-m the front 4 to said member I. Side grooves 26 in said blocks I1, I8, in which the sides of the clamping bail 25 are fitted, prevent said bail and said blocks from slipping relatively, vertically. The clamping bail 25 is formed with ball-like free ends 21 for passing through and interlocking with keyhole slots 28 in opposite sides of a presser plate 29 opposed to the rear black I8 and adapted to be secured thereto by spring clips 30. A bail tightening bar with a hook camming end 3l and a straight vhandle A32 provides for camming the clamping'bail 25 forwardly, the clamping end 3l being pivoted, as at 33, on the bight of said bail 25 to be rolled against the front 4 of said member I and extended upwardly through said bail when the handle 32 is swung downwardly and rearwardly into flat engagement with the .front 4 of said member I. As will be clear, when the clamping bail 25 is swung, as described, the-camming end 3l co-acts with the front 4 of said member I to cam said clamping bail 25 forwardly and thereby urge the presser plate 29 forwardly against the clamping block 18 `so that said blocks I1, I8 are clamped together and against the member I. As will also be'clear, when the'ba'il tightening bar is swung, asd'escribed, said bar is maintained in position by being swung past 'a dead center position. When the bail tightening bar is swung away from the member I, the presesr plate 29 and the clamping blocks I'I, lI3 will become loose so that the combined fastener and insulator I 6 may be set vertically into different positions and the clamping blocks I 'I, I8 separated sufliciently to permit fence wire to be introduced into lthe grooves 2|, 22, selectively.

The 'foregoing will, it is believed, sui`ce to impart a clear understanding of my invention, Without further explanation. I

Manifestly, the invention, a's described, vis susceptible of modiiication withoutdeparting from the inventive concept, and right is .herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fence post comprising an elongated member, a pair of opposed insulated blocks adapted to be clamped against opposite sides of wire fencing, and means for clamping said blocks against said fencing and one block to said post comprising a, presser plate opposed to the other block with key-hole slots therein, a bail straddling said member and blocks with enlarged `ends .interlocking with one end of the slots and removable out of the other ends of said slots, and a member on said bail swingable against said elongated member to exert pressure on said bail to pull said -plate against said other block.

.2. A fence -post comprising an elongated member, a pair of opposed insulated blocks adapted to be `clamped `against opposite sides of wire fencing, and means for clamping said blocks against said fencing and one block to said post comprising a, presser plate opposed to the other block, an 'endwise `movable bail straddling lsaid member and blocks and `connected to said presser plate to cause the same to press against said other Vblock upon movement of the bail endwise, `and abar lon said bail swingable thereon against said member -to cam said bail endwise.

HAROLD L. CRAIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

YUNITED `STATES 'PATENTS Number `Name Date 824,055 Acly June -19, '1'90'6 996,312 Childress June 27, "1911 1,583,409 Marquart May 4, vi926 2,163,954 Lucas June 27, V'1939 2,189,542 Caldwell `ieb. 6, 1940 2,227,553 Paque Jan. 7,1941 2,396,512 Johnson Mar. '12, 1946 

